SCVO is undertaking a variety of projects under our ‘Building Bridges across the Equality Spectrum’ programme.

North of Scotland: Highlands & Islands Equality Forum 

This project involves the continuing facilitation of the Highlands and Islands Equality Forum of all interested bodies across the region, including statutory bodies and SMEs. It is an ESF funded project and covers all Equal Opportunity issues, including mental health, ethnic, gender and disability matters.

A project Management Group exists consisting of Highlands and Islands Enterprise, University of the Highlands and Islands Millennium Institute, Voluntary Action Lewis, Voluntary Action Orkney, Shetland Council of Voluntary Service, Voluntary Action Highland, Inverness College and SCVO.

The project involves conducting a baseline audit of current equalities activity and monitoring across as many organisations as possible in H&I. This will also serve to raise awareness of equality issues. Training packages will then be formulated based on an assessment of current need.

It is hoped that through face-to-face and ICT methods, up to 3000 people will receive equality training over the lifetime of the project.

Contact:
Morag Redwood
1 Connel Court
Ardconnel Street
Inverness IV2 3EY
Tel: 01463 701132
Fax: 01463 701131
email: morag.redwood@scvo.org.uk

‘DEVELOPING EQUALITIES IN THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR’

The SCVO Development team based in the West of Scotland Office deliver the ‘Developing Equalities in the Voluntary Sector’ programme (outlined above) incorporating key elements of training, support, events, information and learning materials.

The Developing Equalities programme is funded by ESF Objective 3 and the Scottish Executive. The aim of the ESF programme is to make companies and individuals aware of the benefits of removing gender constraints to allow equal access to employment, training and income earning opportunities. The Scottish Executive has a strategic commitment to the promotion and protection of equal opportunities and works in partnership with SCVO to meet the aims and objectives of the Equality Strategy. 

Contact:
Louise Carlin
Senior Development Officer
SCVO West of Scotland
0141 221 0030
email: louise.carlin@scvo.org.uk

Promoting Equalities in the Voluntary Sector 

The Promoting Equalities project, funded by the Scottish Executive, aims to encourage a mainstreaming approach to the implementation of equality policies and practice across the voluntary sector. More specifically this projects seeks to:

• Encourage co-ordinated working across the voluntary sector to increase the impact of work to promote equality 

• Implement a mainstreamed approach to equality promotion in voluntary sector infrastructure in line with good practice
  
• Support voluntary organisations to implement equalities good practice 

This work involves liaising with network bodies and organisations across the third sector in order to raise awareness of the importance of equality matters. Also, the promotion and publicising of equality work and wider dissemination of best practice are at the heart of this project.

Contact:
Philippa Bonella 
Policy Co-ordination Manager
SCVO Edinburgh Office
0131 556 3882
email: philippa.bonella@scvo.org.uk